Bed-pan



(No Model.)

B. E. MERRON.

BED PAN.

. Patented Jan. 11, 1887. 4

@QL-lmcooao- N. PETERS. Phclolilhogmpheh Wnshinginn, B4 C4 iJNira STATES ATENT Fries.

BED-PAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.-355.881, dated January 11, 1.887.

Application filed October 18, 1886. Serial No. "216.549.

ruction and arrangement of the parts of the :me, substantially as hereinafter fully deribed, and particularly pointed out in the aim.

The object of my invention is to provide an mproved article of the class named, which an be used with ease and comfort by the paient while in a reclining position, and withut danger of soiling the bed and clothing hile using the same or removing it from be ieath the patient.

A further object of my invention is to provide a pan which can be-used by adults and children alike, and thus dispense with two or more different sizes of pans, as is necessarily practiced with the pans of ordinary construction at present in extensive use, and to so arrange the parts of the pan that it can be emptied of its contents with ease and facility, the

device being easily cleansed, which is very important.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved bed-pan. Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof, and Fig. 8 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view of the same on the line or a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line y y of Fig. 2. l

Referring to the drawings, in which llliQiOhters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the bed-pan of my invention, which comprises a flat bot tom, a, the vertical side walls, I), the corresponding end walls, 0, and a top wall or roof, d, all of which are formed in a single piece of earthen substance, or in separable-connected parts of any other approved or desired substance. The front vertical end wallis rounded or' curved, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the front ends of the bottom a and roof d are correspondingly curved and ronnded'to conform to the shape of the said front wall, as is obvious.

The end and side walls of the pan are of sub- (l\'o model.)

slantially the same height, so as to form a chamber or compartment, 13, of substantially uniform depth throughout-,which thereby prevents to a very material extent the escape and spilling of the contents of the device, which is liable to occur in removing the pans of ordinary form, thus soiling the bed and clothing thereon, and which is very disagreeable and annoying to the patient.

The rear end wall of the pan is fiat or rectangular in form, and it inclines upwardly and outwardly, as shown, so that the said rear end of the device can be readily and easily inserted and adjusted beneath the patient, and form a support and rest for the back while in a reclining position, and thereby materially add to the comfort and ease of the patient while evacuating the bowels, for which purpose and others of a kindred nature the device is adapted.

The upper or top wall, d, of the pan is pro- Vided at its center with an opening, 0, which communicates with the chamber or compartment B. This opening is made substantially oval in form, with its longitudinal axis parallel with the corresponding axis of the pan, and the said roof is made concave in form on its upper side, or curved inwardly and downwardly from the outer edges of the pan toward the central. opening therein, so that the patient can sit or rest thereon with ease and comfort.

To empty the pan it is turned up on the front end and inverted, so that the contents thereof will escape from the opening in the nozzle, which is of sufficient size to permit of the ready and free escape of the contents, and the hand of the operator, with the cleansing-cloth, can be readily passed through the central open. ing of the roof.

The operation of emptying and cleansing the pan can be accomplished with more rapidity and case than is possible with bed-pans of the ordinary class, which is very desirable.

It will be seen by reference to the drawings that I provide a comparatively small opening in the roof of the pan and large surfaces on opposite sides of the said opening for the support of the person straddling the device,which insures comparative ease and comfort, and the vertical side and end walls, of substantially the same height, combined with the small central opening, prevent the escape and spilling of the contents of the vessel while removing the latter from beneath the patient.

Ddesignates an integral enlargement, which rises vertically from the front end of the upper wall or roof of the pan. This enlargement is located immediately in front of the central opening, 0, and in linetherewith, and it has a vertical passage, 6, formed therein, which As a new article of manufacture, a bed-pan comprising a flat horizontal bottom, a horizontal concave top, d, having a central opening, 0, the side walls joining the horizontal bottom and top, the front walls, and the back wall, the said side, front, and back walls being of substantially the same height to form a chamber, B, of uniform depth throughout, and a vertical nozzle, D, projecting upwardly from the front end of the pan and arranged in line with the opening 0 therein, the said nozzle being hollow and communicating with the pan, and having an opening, 6, at its apex, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

ELIZABETH E. MERRON.

\Vitnesses:

JOB R. DINAN, CHARLES H. TOLMAN.

It is hereby certified that the name of the patentee in Letters Patent No. 355,881, granted January 11, 1887, for an improvement in Bed-Pans, Was erroneously Written and printed Elizabeth E. Merron, whereas said name should have been Written and printed Elizabeth E. Marrow and that said Letters Patent should, be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 25th day of January, A. D. 1887.

[SEAL] D. L. HAWKINS,

Acting Secretary of the Interior.

Gountersigned:

R. B. VANCE,

Acting Commissioner of Ifcitents. 

